Metal base for building walls



'June 2, 1942.

W.l M. GOLDSMITH METAL BASE FOR BUILDING WALLS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed sept. s, 1959 as T 5 umnmnnnnnnnnnmnnn INVENTOR. WLL /HM M. C7oLD.5M/TH ATTORNEY.

June 2, 1942. w. M.GoLDsMlT|-| METAL BASE FOR BUILDING WALLS Filed Sept. 8, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1NVENTOR' Q o1. D s M TH NIL/.lan M ATTORNEY.

June Z,r 1942. -w. M. GoLDsMlTl-l 2,285,034

METAL BASE FOR BUILDING'WALLS v Filed sept. s, 1959 s sheets-sheet s 2:19.13 F1911. Ff-'15.15'. 2:71915 4 0 a' 42.4. 42 d. 4a 42d' v ao INVENTOR. WML/HM M. GoLvM/-r/-l BY QM ATTORNEY.

Patented June 2, 19472 Unirse stares sereni t OFFICE METAL nass Fon BUILDING WALLs william M. Goldsmith, cincinnati, ohio Application September 8, 1939, Serial No. 293,918

(ci. 'i2-4s) 19 Claims.

This invention relates to building-wall construction and, more particularly, to metallic bases or sub-structures therefor. l

One object is to provide a base which can be shipped in knock-down, i. e., non-assembled, condition and which is made of parts, with or Without a runner or other lath-jstud holding means, which can be shipped separately to the job, thus enabling thefcontractor to form from the various parts supplied various types of bases as he may desire. Moreover, by rea-son of the fact that the base can be thus supplied in non-assembled condition and constructed and arranged to be assembled at the job, manufacturing operations are reduced-.and simplified, because, amongl other things, it is unnecessary for the manufacturer to weld or otherwise fix to the side walls the means carried by the runner or other lathstud holder for connecting the latter to the side Walls. Furthermore, in shipping the base vin knocked-down condition, there results the additional important advantage of economy in shipping and storage space for the same weigh of material.

Another object ofthe inventionis the provision of a metallic Wall-base constructed and arranged to facilitatel and simplify the manufacture thereof and the assembly of partsfthereof,

particularly the side Wall or walls with the runner or other means for holding and posi- Tf' tioning the lower ends of the studs to which the metal lathing of the building-wall is fastened.

j More specifically, this object of the invention is to eliminate certain serious difficulties heretofore encountered in the installation of metallic bases including runners or other lath-stud holding means. For example, in one type of base construction for partition or other building-Walls, the runner for the lath-studs is integral with, Welded to, or otherwise flxedly secured to the base side wall or walls. This is objectionable because, among otherthings, such base construction frequently complicates and makes difficult the installation of the base. Gne illustration of the difficulties encountered in the use of such base constructions is that met with in adapting the base for use at the corners of partition or other building-walls where it is necessary tov dispose parts of the base in angular relation, usually at right angles to each other. More speciiically, in adapting a straight or non-angular base for use at the corner of a building-wall, where the runner for the lath-studs is flxedly secured to the side wall or walls of the base, or Where the side walls and bottom are in onepiece or integral relationwith the runner for the lath-studs formed in the bottom, it is necessary to bend the side wall orwalls to dispose them in angular relation, but before this can be done it is necessary to detach a length of the runner from the side wall or walls of the base and subsequently, after the base wall is bent into the proper angular relation, it may be necessary again to secure a length of the runner in the portion where saidrunner has been cut out to allow for the bending of the sides of the base. These operations involve considerable loss of time and labor, thereby adding substantially to the cost of the job as well as delaying the installation, and are otherwise highly objectionable and disadvantageous because, among other things, the runner is usually distorted while being detached from the side walls of the base and further because it is difficult to line up the stud-receiving elements of the runner to properly position the same in relation to similar elements on the overhead-runner so that the studs Will be in proper vertical position. These specifically mentioned and other objections and disadvantages of bases in which the runner is Xedly secured to or integral with the side wall or Walls of the bases, as well as other disadvantages and objections are eliminated by the present invention, and moreover an improved base possessing important advantages over the prior art constructions is provided..

Another object of the invention is to provide a base of such construction that the side walls thereof can be readily assembled with the stud 'runner or other stud-holding means in secure relation therewith whereby to facilitate the manufacture of the base and the installation thereof by the contractor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a base wall which can be utilized alternatively in bases of several different types, for example, in a base having one side wall to Which the runner is secured, or in a base in which theside wall is devoid of a runner. A

The above objects, features and advantages of the invention, as well as others which hereinafter appear, will be fully understood from the following description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: v

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a base having angularly related portions designed for use at the corner of a building wall;

Fig. 2 is a view of the base` on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section, on a larger scale, on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of part of the base illustrated in Fig. l, on a larger scale, provided with a bracing member, part of one of the side walls of the base being cut away for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan View of the base illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is an end view of the base illustrated in Fig. 4;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a base having only one side wall;

Fig. 8 is a perspective View of a part of the base illustrated in Fig. 1, on a larger scale, showing a lath-stud in position on the runner;

Fig. 9 is an end View of a base devoid of a runner and provided with means for attaching the same to the building-wall;

Figs. 10 to 13 are vertical sectional views of the side Wall of the base illustrating various forms of the Side wall which may be used in the bases of the present invention;

Fig. 14 is a View similar to Fig. 2 illustrating another form of the invention;

Fig. 15 is a sectional View on the line lil-l5 of Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 8 illustrating another form of lath-stud holding means;

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a side wall connecting member and lath-stud holding device forming a part of the base illustrated in Fig. 16;

Figs. 18 and 19 are, respectively, a top plan view and an end view in elevation of the member illustrated in Fig. 17;

f Fig. 20 is a sectional View on the line ZEE- 2d of Fig. 18.

Referring now to the rawings in detail, the base ll embodying the present invention is illustrated in Fig. 1 in the form in which portions of the side walls l2 and I are in angular relation at opposite sides of a vertical line, as at a corner, said side walls having been initially straight and bent into the form shown. The top edge portions of said walls i2 and lll are reflexed to provide each side wall with an inturned flange i6. It will be understood that the side walls can be readily bent into any desired angular formation and that this can be readily accomplished at the job by a simple tool, and where, as in the form ef the invention here shown, the upper edge portion of the side wall is reflexed or flanged, a notch can be formed, if necessary, in said reflex-ed or flanged portion to permit or facilitate the formation of the bend in the side wall by cutting said reflexed portion with any suitable tool such, for example, as an ordinary tinners shears.

The shape of the side wall, in vertical cross section, can be different from that illustrated in Fig. 3. Several of such other shapes are illustrated by way of example, in Figs. 10 to 13. As shown in Fig. l0, the side wall is provided with an outwardly curved lower portion I3 so that said side wall has a cove at the bottom, and as shown in Fig. 11, in addition to the cove i3, said side wall can be provided with a downwardly extending portion l5 and a laterally extending portion l5@ forming a recess for linoleurn or other floor covering material. As illustrated in Fig. 12, the side wall can have an inwardly extending bend or lateral flange Il for stiffening the bottom edge of the side Wall and for imparting rigidity to the side wall as a whole. Further, as-illustrated in Fig. 13, the upper edge portion can be curved inwardly and upwardly, as indicated at |511 between the body portion of the side wall and the reflexed flange indicated at lb, thereby to provide a base of the projecting type, the plaster or other wall line being indicated diagrarnrnatically at L. It will be understood that any of the side walls illustrated in Figs. l0 to 13 may be used in any of the bases herein shown or described in lieu of the side wall specifically illustrated in connection with any of the forms of the invention or, in any embodiment of the invention contemplated herein.

The runner lil for holding and positioning the lower ends of the lath-studs is disposed between the opposite side walls l2 and lll of the base adjacent the lower edges 2l! of said side walls. Said runner comprises an inverted U-shaped member having a plurality of slots 22 disposed in spaced relation longitudinally of the runner, said slots extending across the web 24 of the U-shaped member and partly down the leg portions 26 of said member for receiving the lower end of the lath-stud S, as illustrated in Fig. 8. It will be understood that the upper ends of the lath-studs are held in an overhead runner (not shown) of any suitable type. The lower edges of the legs of the runner as well as the lower edges of the side walls I2 and ld of the base are adapted to rest upon the floor or surface at the lower edge of the partition or other buildingwall, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, and the space between said side walls of the base will ordinarily be filled with plaster or other wall material which also covers one or both sides of the metal lath (not shown) which, conventionally, is secured to the studs, such as the stud Sy said plaster extending over the flanges I6 flush with the wall to the lines indicated more or less diagrammatically at W-W in Fig. 3.

The runner i8 is provided with transversely extending portions 28 which are disposed at intervals along lthe runner preferably in equispaced relation. Said transverse members 28 are constituted by plates formed integrally with the runner from the web and leg portions thereof. Said plates are disposed adjacent to but slightly above the loweredges of the legs 2E of the runner by bending opposed web portions 35i downwardly, as illustrated in Figs; 3 and 4. Each plate 28 is preferably provided with an aperture 132 for the passage of nails, screws or other fastening devices for securing the runner and base to the floor or other surface at the bottom of the partition or other building-wall.

The side walls l2 andV i4 of the base and the runnerv are construct-ed and arranged to be shipped in knock-down or non-assembled condition and to be quickly and easily assembled so that this can be accomplished at the job, it being unnecessary for the manufacturer to supply the side walls and the runner in assembled relation.

For this reason, when it is desired to provide athereto for securely fastening the Arunner to said side walls. I4 are provided with brackets lli? secured, preferably by welding, to the inner surfaces thereof. Said brackets have outwardly bent intermediate portions 42 forming a space or vsocket between -spaced relation corresponding to the spaced relation of connecting members 313 and the plates 28 to which they are secured. This assures the correct adjustment of runners It longitudinally of the side walls of the base so that the slots which receive the lower ends of the lath-studs are in proper alignment with the slot or other stud-holding members of the overhead runner.

The brackets which provide the sockets for the legs 33 of connecting members 3e can be formed in a single strip of metal instead of in the form of a plurality of individual members i0 as hereinbefore described, This is illustrated in Figs. ifi to l5 which shows a single strip ma of metal extending longitudinally of the side wall I2 and secured, preferably, by being welded thereto. Said bracket strip 49a is provided with laterally `oiiset portions 42a forming, with the adjacent surfaces of the side wall, sockets forr receiving he legs 3S of connecting members 312. It will be understood. that socket portions Ma are arranged in any suitable spaced relation longitudinally of the side wall to provide spacing of the connecting members 34.

As will be readily understood, the base can be sed for a solid wallor for a hollow wall. Also, instead of a singie runner disposed 'between the For this purpose, side walls I2 and Y side walls of the base, there may be utilized two runners lying adjacent to each other in side by side relation and extending longitudinally of the base between the side walls for holding the lower ends of two series or" iath studs. Numerous other wall constructions can be utiiized with the bases of the present invention. While I have referred` to plaster as the wall material, it will be understood that any other wall material can be used instead. For example, the base can be used with clay tile, covered with plaster to the lines W-W (Fig. 3) or other forms of partitions that do not require the metal iath or the lath studding, and in this case, the runner or 'other stud-holding means can be dispensed with, a plurality of members 343 being used for connecting together the opposite side walls of the base, the runner-I8 or other stud-holding means being omitted.

The base I@ is preferably provided with means for bracing the same. Said bracing means comprises a plurality of metal straps iii disposed at intervals along the upper edge portionsof said walls I2 and It, said straps extending between said side walls and connected to the inturned flanges It thereof. Said strap comprises an intermediate portion dit and companion upwardly bent split portions d8, 5b at the opposite ends suitable fastening means.

thereof which engage the opposite sides of companion flanges I6 for preventing movement of said walls I2 and M toward each other and for preventing separation of said side walls. It will be understood that as many straps 44 may be utilized as is necessary to rigidify the base. It will be understood further that while the use of straps 44 or other brac-ing members is preferred, the same may be dispensed with if desired.

As illustrated in Fig, 7, the base may comprise a' single side wall connected to a runner for the lath-studs. Thus, as here shown. a single side wall I'Ea is connected to the runner I8 by the interengaging means constituted by the bracket @il and the L-shaped connecting member 34a of which the base portion 36a is secured preferably by welding to the plate 28 of the runner. Accordingly, it will be understood that the side wall members of the base can be used for forming either a base having two side walls as illustrated in Fig. 4 or only one side wall as illustrated in Fig. '7.

` In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 9, the base has a single side wall adapted to be supported vfrom and connected to a wall, which may be a fixed or other wall of the building, and

may, as here shown, be devoid of a runner forlath-studs. Accordingly, for connecting the side wall i211 which is the same as the side wall I2 or ifi of the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8,

there are utilized fastening straps such as the' fastening strap 52 which has an intermediate portion 5t for spacing the base from the wall, a leg portion 56 connected with bracket it and a leg portion E8 adapted to be fastened to the wall as indi-cated at Se, by nails, screws or any other Leg 5S is received in bracket di! to hold the side wall I2?) in position in relation to the wall of the building with which the base is associated.

Instead of the runner I8 for the 'rath-,stud holding means, a plurality of individual lath-stud holding members may be utilized. This is illusvtrated in Figs. 16 to 20. Thus as shown in Fig.

16, in lieu of the runner lva plurality of indi- 'vidualstud-holding members are disposed bebottom portions 62, all of the parts of said connecting and stud-hoiding members being preferably in integral relation. VWing Si'is provided with an opening l@ conforming substantially in size and contour to the transverse contour of the stud S, the lower end of rthe latter extending through opening 'lli and thereby positioned and held, in conjunction with the overhead runner (not shown) in the proper vertical position. It will be understood that the sockets on the side walls of the base will predetermine the longitudinally spaced relation of adjacent connecting and stud-holding members. stood also that when the base is used for walls devoid of a runner or other stud-holding means,

parts t6 and S8 can be omitted in which case,4

the U-shaped members constituted by the bottom portion E2 andthe side leg portion 64 will It will be'. underserve merely as connecting members for securing the opposite side Walls I2 and I4 of the base in proper relation for forming the base.

It will be noted that the side Wall element of thebase is adapted for use in forming bases oi' various types, for as here shown, a side Wall of the same construction can be utilized for forming a base having two'side walls as illustrated in Fig. 4, or a base having a single side Wall and provided with a runner as illustrated in Fig. 7, or a base having a single side Wall and devoid of a runner and adapted to be secured to a xed wall or other wall of the building.v It will be understood, therefore, that the construction provided in accordance with the present invention is flexible to a high degree in that it lends itself to numerous uses thereby eliminating the necessity for pre-fabricating bases of various constructions which are ordinarily required in a building. In this connection it will be observed further that the side walls and runners or side walls without stud-holding means but with connecting members can be provided in suitable lengths in knock-down or non-assembled condition, to be assembled at the job in the several ways which may be required and which will vary on different jobs.

Thus it is seen that the base member constructions herein shown or described are well adapted to accomplish the several objects of the invention. It will be understood, however, that while I have shown and described the preferred` embodiments of the invention and the manner of practicing the same, the invention may be embodied otherwise than as here shown and that in the illustrated or described embodiments, certain changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made and will occur to skilled artisans. Therefore, I do not wish to be limited to the form or forms of the invention herein disclosed, except as may be required by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentl is:

l. A metal base for a partition or other building wall, comprising a side wall, lath-stud holding means disposed adjacent said side wall, means secured to the inner surface of said side Wall and forming a socket therewith, and means fixed to said stud-holding means and projecting into said socket in engagement with said side wall, with the inner surface of said socket-forming means and with the ends of the socket whereby to prevent movement of said stud-holding means longitudinally and laterally of said side wall, for securing said lath-stud holding means to said side Wall.

2. A metal base for a partition or other building wall, comprising laterally spaced opposed side walls, lath-stud holding means disposed between said side walls, means secured to the inner surfaces of said side walls forming sockets therewith, respectively, and means fixed to said lathstud holding means at opposite sides thereof and engaging said side walls, said socket-forming means and the ends of the sockets, respectively, for holding said side walls in said laterally spaced relation with said stud-holding means in fixed position between and laterally of said side walls and for preventing longitudinal movement of said side Walls in relation to each other and to said stud-holding means.

3. A metal base for a partition or other building wall comprising laterally spaced longitudinally extending side walls, longitudinally spaced lateral connecting members having laterally extending portions and upstanding parts bent upwardly from said laterally extending portions at the opposite ends thereof, means xed to the inner surfaces, respectively, of said side walls and forming sockets therewith, respectively, said upstanding parts engaging said side walls in said sockets for securing said side walls in said laterally spaced relation, said upstanding parts engaging the ends of said sockets, respectively, for preventing longitudinal movement of said side Walls in relation to each other and to said connecting members.

4. A metal base for a partition or other building wall comprising laterally spaced longitudinally extending side walls, longitudinally spaced lateral connecting members having laterally exl tending portions and upstanding parts bent upwardly from said laterally extending portions at the opposite ends thereof, means fixed to the inner surfaces, respectively, of said side walls and forming sockets therewith, respectively, said upstanding parts engaging said side walls in said sockets for securingsaid side walls in said laterally spaced relation and for holding said side Walls against relative longitudinal movement, said upstanding parts engaging the ends of said sockets, respectively, for preventing longitudinal movement of said side walls in relation to each other and to said connecting members, said laterally extending portions having parts in iixed relation thereto, respectively, extending in the direction of the length of said side walls and provided with openings therein for holding and positioning the lower ends of lath-studs.

5. A metal base for a partition or other building wall comprising a side wall, a runner for lath-studs extending longitudinally of said side wall, means secured to said side wall at the inner surface thereof and forming with said surface a plurality of longitudinally spaced sockets, and parts in i-lxed relation to said runner engaging said side wall and said socket-forming means, in said sockets, respectively, and engaging also the opposite ends of the respective sockets for securing the said runner to said side wall and for preventing movement of said runner longitudinally and laterally of said side wall.

6. A metal base for a partition or other building wall comprising a side wall, a runner for lath-studs extending longitudinally of said side Wall adjacent the lower edge thereof, and initially separate members xedly secured to the inner surface of said side wall and to said runner, respectively, and engaging each other in intertting relation for securing said runner to said side wall, said members on said runner upstanding therefrom and connected, respectively, to said members in said relation on said side Wall, said initially separate members forming sockets with the inner surface of said side wall, and said members on the runner engaging said surface of the side wall and the companion socket-forming members, respectively, and engaging also the opposite ends of the companion sockets for preventing movement of said runner longitudinally and laterally of said side wall.

7, A metal base for a partition or other building wall comprising a side wall, a runner for lath-studs extending longitudinally of said side wall and means for connecting said runner to vsaid side wall comprising a plurality of socket in spaced relation longitudinally of saidrrunner and fixed thereto and having socket `entering portions, said members on said side wall and runner being constructed and arranged to interengage each other, respectively, with said socket entering portions in said sockets for securing said runner to said side Wall, 'said socket entering portions engaging the inner surface of said side Wall, the companion socket members, respectively, and engaging also the opposite ends of the companion sockets for preventing movement of said runner longitudinally and laterally of said side wal-l. v

8. A metal base for a partition or other building wall comprising two longitudinally extending laterally spaced side walls, a runner disposed between said side walls and extending longitudinally thereof, means secured to the inner surfaces of said side walls forming sockets therewith, respectively, and means fixed to `said runner at opposite sides'thereof and engaging said side walls and said socket-forming means, respectively, in said sockets and engaging also the opposite ends of the companion sockets for securing said runner to said side walls of the base and for holding said side walls in said laterally spaced relation and for preventing movement of said side walls longitudinally in relation to each other and to said runner and for preventing movement of said side walls laterally of said runner.

9. A metal base vfor a partition or other building wall comprising a side wall, a runner for lath-studs extending longitudinally ofl said side Wall, and interengaging means on said runner and on the innersurface of said side wall for securing said runner to said side wall, said interengaging means comprising brackets fixed to said side wall and having portions in spaced relation to said side wall forming sockets therewith and members fixed to said runner and connected to said brackets in said sockets, respectively, and engaging said side wall and the companion bracket and engaging also the opposite ends of the companion socket .for preventing relative longitudinal and lateral movement of said side wall and said runner.

10. A metal base for a partition or other building wall comprising two longitudinally extending laterally spaced side walls, a runner disposed beo tween said side Walls and extending longitudinally thereof and interengaging means on said runner and on the inner surfaces of said side walls for securing said runner to said side walls,

said interengaging means comprising brackets fixed to said side walls, and members fixed to said runner and connected to said brackets in fixed relation longitudinally and laterally of said side walls whereby to prevent relative longitudinal and lateral movement of said side walls and relative longitudinal and lateral movement of each side wall and said runner.

l1. A metal base for a partition or other building wall comprising two longitudinally extending laterally spaced 'side walls, a runner disposed between said side walls, and extending longitudinally thereof, and interengaging means on said runner and on the inner surfaces of said side walls for securing said runner to said side walls, said interengaging means comprising brackets fixed to said side walls, and U-shaped members having web portions fixed to said runner and opposite leg portions connected, respectively, to said brackets on opposite side walls in fixed relation longitudinally and laterally of said side walls whereby to prevent relative longitudinal side wall and said runner. y 12. A metal base for a partition or vother building. wall comprising a side wall, a runner for lath-studs extending longitudinally of said side wall, and interengaging means on said runner and on the inner surface of said side wall for securing said runner to said side wall, said interengaging means comprising brackets'fixed to Vsaid side wall yand members having web portions fixed to said runner and leg portions connected, respectively, to 4said brackets on said side wall in xed relation longitudinally and laterally 'of said side wall whereby to prevent relative longitudinal and lateral movement of said side wall and said runner.

13. A metal base for a partition or other building wall comprising two longitudinally extending laterally spaced side walls, a runner disposed between and adjacent the lower edges of said side walls and extending longitudinally thereof, socket members fixed .to said side walls on the inner surfaces thereof, and means fixed to said runner and upstanding therefrom connected to `said socket members on said side walls in fixed relation longitudinally and laterally of said side walls whereby to prevent relative longitudinal and lateral movement of said side Walls and relative longitudinal and lateral movement of each side wall and said runner. i

14. A metal base for a partition or other build- Y ing wall comprising two longitudinally extending laterally spaced side walls, a runner disposed between said` sidewalls andv extending longitudinally thereof, means secured to the inner surfaces of said side walls forming sockets therewith, respectively, and means fixed to said runner at opposite sides thereof and engaging said side walls and said socket-forming means, respectively, in said sockets and engaging also the opposite ends of the companion sockets for securing said runner to said side walls of the base and for holding said side walls in said .laterally spaced relation and for preventing movement of said side walls longitudinally in relation to each other and to said runner and for preventing movement of said side walls laterally of said runner, and bracing means extending laterally between said side walls and engaging the upper portions thereof.

l5. A metal base for a partition or other building wall comprising two longitudinally extending laterally spaced side walls, a runner disposed between said side walls, and extending longitudinally thereof, and interengaging means on said runner and on the inner surfaces of said side wails for securing said runner to said side walls,

.said interengaging means comprising brackets fixed to said side walls, and U-shaped members having web portions fixed to said runner and opposite leg portions connected, respectively, to said brackets on opposite side walls in xed relation longitudinally and laterally of said side walls whereby to prevent relative longitudinal and lateral movement of said side walls and relative longitudinal'and lateral movement of each side wall and said runner, and bracing means extending laterally between said side walls and engaging the upper portions thereof.

i6. A metal base for a partition or other building wall, comprising laterally spaced opposed side walls, a plurality of lath-stud holding members disposed between said side walls and spaced longitudinally thereof, means secured to the inner surfaces of said spaced side walls, respectively, forming on each of said side walls a plurality of longitudinally spaced sockets open at their bottoms, each of said lath-stud holding members having a transversely extending part and opposed upwardly bent parts at the opposite ends, respectively, of said transverse part, one of said upwardly bent parts tting in one of the sockets of one of said opposed side walls and the other of said upwardly bent parts tting in one of the sockets of the other of said side walls in xed relation longitudinally and laterally of the latter whereby to prevent relative longitudinal and lateral movement of said side walls, each of said lath-stud holding members having a wing in xed relation to said transversely extending part, positioned thereabove, and projecting in the direction of the length of said side walls, said wing having an opening therein for the lower end prtion of a lath-stud.

17. A metal base for a partition or other building wall comprising laterally spaced longitudinally extending side walls, longitudinally spaced lateral connecting members having laterally extending portions and upstanding parts bent upwardly from said laterally extending portions at the opposite ends thereof, means xed to the inner surfaces, respectively, of said side walls and forming sockets therewith, respectively, said upstanding parts engaging said side walls in said sockets in xed relation longitudinally and laterally of said side walls for securing said side walls in said laterally spaced relation and for preventing relative longitudinal movement of said side walls, and means fixed to said lateral connecting members and positioned between said spaced side walls for holding and positioning the lower ends of lath-studs in xed spaced relation longitudinally v of the base.

ing wall comprising laterally spaced longitudinally extending side walls, longitudinally spaced lateral connecting members having laterally extending horizontal portions and upstanding parts bent upwardly from said laterally extending horizontal portions at the opposite ends thereof, means fixed to the inner surfaces, respectively, of said side walls and forming sockets therewith, respectively, said upstanding parts engaging said side walls in said sockets in xed relation longitudinally and laterally of said side walls for securing said side walls in said laterally spaced relation and for preventing relative longitudinal movement of said side walls, and means xed to said lateral connecting members and positioned between said spaced side walls for holding and positioning the lower ends of lath-studs in fixed spaced relation longitudinally of the base, said lateral connecting members being fixed against movement longitudinally of said side walls by the engagement of said upstanding parts in said sockets.

19. A metal base for a partition or other building wall, comprising a side wall, lath-stud holding means disposed adjacent said side wall, means secured to the inner surface of said side wall and forming a socket therewith, and' means fixed to said lath-stud holding means and projecting upwardly into said socket in xed relation longitudinally and laterally of said side wall lwhereby to prevent relative longitudinal and lateral movement of said side Wall and said lath-stud holding means and for securing said lath-stud holding means to said side Wall, said lath-stud holding means being constructed and arranged to hold the stud against movement longitudinally of said side wall.

WILLIAM M. GOLDSMITH. 

